By PAT EATON-ROBB
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — UConn coach Dan Hurley is happy with the energy level of his Huskies, now he’d like to see them develop a killer instinct.
Hurley had a successful coaching debut at his new school Thursday as UConn broke open a close game, then held off a pesky Morehead State team for an 80-70 win.
Josh Carlton scored 17 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Jalen Adams scored 16 points and Alterique Gilbert added 15 for the Huskies, who led by just four points at halftime.
Lamontray Harris had 16 points and Malek Green 14 for Morehead State (1-1).
UConn never trailed. The Huskies led by as many as 13 in the first half and 16 in the second, but had to weather several Morehead State runs.
“We were playing with fire,” Hurley said. “We had a chance to kind of bury them a couple times and we let it hang around and be a 10 point game.”